Shiffer: Democratic Voters Will Be Apathetic

With the primary elections over and the dust has settled, Democratic candidate for the 1st Ward commissioner’s position, Tom Shiffer, feels that Democratic voters will be apathetic come the general election in November.

Shiffer, who ran uncontested for the Democratic position in the primary election on Tuesday, said the votes that he and Republican incumbent 1st Ward Commissioner Steve D’Emilio received — 426 for D’Emilio and 209 for Shiffer according to an unofficial count by the Delaware County Election Bureau — were an indication of what the general election might bring in November.

“Yes, I think that the results of this primary election are a harbinger of the November election,” Shiffer wrote in an email interview on Wednesday to the Haverford-Havertown Patch, adding that he has a tough fight ahead. “It’s an off year election and Democrats historically do not participate. I wish there was some way to excite them, but residents seem not to know or care. Also, I find that in these elections, the people vote their registered party in the general elections also.”

It is important to remind some readers that traditionally in the primary elections, the two political parties, Republicans and Democrats, do not run against each other but against their own party for certain positions.

But despite Shiffer’s prediction, D’Emilio wrote on Wednesday to Patch that he will not be taking his opponent for granted, adding that being the only commissioner who was challenged during the primary election — both he and Jon Tancredi were competing for the Republican position during — reminded him to expect the unexpected.

“I never take anything for granted. I worked very hard on this election and I will work even harder in November,” D’Emilio wrote about his race against Tancredi in an email interview with Patch.

Tancredi, who received 212 votes compared to D’Emilio’s 426, conceded the race on Wednesday morning and wrote in an email to Patch that he would later share his thoughts about the primary race.

“Though I had a great experience running for commissioner of a great ward, in the end I didn't win the election. Congratulations to Steve D'Emilio,” Tancredi wrote on Patch’s Shout Out section.

However, Shiffer stated that one of the issues for this election year for Haverford Township residents would be the new YMCA center being built on the old factory site.

“The only issue that I see any interest in is whether the YMCA site is going to end up costing the township more money. That probably will not be anywhere near settled by November,” he wrote.

For D’Emilio, he wrote that some of the concerns for residents of the 1st Ward are the sewer tank, billboards and traffic and parking issues on the Eagle Road corridor, among others.

“A commissioner cannot fight these issues alone and we have many community activists that work non-stop on these issues,” he added.

But Philip Lozano, the Democratic candidate for the judge’s position at district court 32-1-25, offered his thoughts as to how the voters will choose a candidate.

“I think that Haverford Township residents will vote for the candidate that they believe will be committed to impartial justice and has the right temperament for the job,” he wrote in an email interview with Patch on Wednesday. “I don't think that party affiliation is their main concern.  I am extremely grateful for the support of the Haverford Township Democrats who believe in my message and are helping me spread the word.”

But he thinks that non-party affiliation will be one of the things to change the landscape of the general election come November. He believes that with independents being allowed to vote in the general election, it will shape the race between himself and Republican incumbent Judge Robert Burke. Both men cross-filed as both Republican and Democrat for the primary race.

And according to Lozano, who has been a long-time registered Democrat, even some Republicans showed their support for his campaign.

“This is our first campaign and not only did we win the Democratic nomination, but we received support from 20 percent of the Republican voters. We have only been campaigning for three months and already we are seeing Haverford Township embrace our message.  We just need to continue building that momentum through the six months leading to the general election,” he wrote.

While Burke did not immediately respond to a Patch email seeking comment about the primary race because he was out of town, he did send an email on Friday, May 20, saying that he and his campaign worked hard during the race and were embraced by many across the diverse political landscape.

"While I am, of course, disappointed with the low turnout, I am extremely pleased that the residents who came to vote on Tuesday, supported my re-election effort with great enthusiasm.  I received 80 percent of the Republican vote and a substantial and very encouraging 40 percent of the Democratic vote.  I believe that the voters looked at my record of experience, service, and commitment to the community, and cast their vote accordingly," he wrote.

He stated that he and his campaign would continue to reach out to Republicans, Democrats and independents during the election.